"The Singer Solution to World Poverty" and "The Gift" had a big effect on my thinking. These readings made me feel extremely guilty for buying non-necessities and not donating enough money. However, they made me realize that I could be doing more to help others who are less fortunate.
Although right now, I feel like I can’t do much because I am too young, I have decided that I definitely want to do more to help the community when I get older. One of my former teachers told me that he donates blood six times a year. That is the maximum amount of times a person can donate blood in a year. After hearing this, I also wanted to donate blood as often as possible when I am old enough.
Bono, the frontman of the band U2, is very socially aware. Bono promotes many organizations and foundations that help developing nations. Bono uses his fame to try to influence people to get involved and help people in poorer countries. I admire him for using his power as a well known musician to influence people to do just a little more. I think that if other celebrities tried to do things like this, many of their fans would follow their examples. I believe that if everyone made the effort to donate a small amount money, it would have a large effect.
Interview
Interviewer: What is a commonplace book?
Me: A commonplace book is a journal. I write in it after every English class. It is a place where I can practice my writing. In this book I write about whatever I want--whatever I find my self thinking about or reflecting on.
Interviewer: What are some topics that you wrote about in your commonplace book?
Me: I wrote about many different things in my commonplace book. I wrote about things I do because of school, like paddling, photography, and carnival. I wrote about different philosophies, materialism, music, movies, and television shows. I also wrote mini reflections to readings we did in class like "The Singer Solution" and "The Gift." I tried to address my essential questions.
Interviewer: What are essential questions?
Me: I wrote four broad questions in the beginning of my commonplace book. So far, I have written a little bit about each of them, attempting to answer them. My essential questions address topics such as the responsibilities of humans, religion, why people act the way they do, and Americans ability to help people in poorer nations.
Interviewer: What is a topic that you wrote a lot about?
Me: I wrote three entries about different television shows. Although I do not watch a lot of television, I wrote about my favorite shows, which are Lost, Scrubs, and the Sarah Silverman Program. I also wrote about a really funny skit I saw on SNL entitled "Lazy Sunday."
Interviewer: What other topic did you write more than one entry on?
Me: In my first entry I wrote about my photography classes at school. I cut out two photos from a magazine and wrote about what I liked and didn’t like about them. I did the same in another entry. I printed two photos from the internet. One was of Cee-lo from Gnarls Barkley, and the other was of Kele Okere from Bloc Party. I put them in my commonplace book and wrote about what I liked about the photos.
Interviewer: It seems like you have many pictures in your commonplace book.
Me: Well, on some pages I don’t have any pictures, on some pages I have one or two, and on some pages I have many pictures.
Interviewer: On which page in your book do you have the most pictures?
Me: On my "Favorite Movies" page I have eight pictures. Each picture is of one of my favorite movies. Under each picture I wrote the title of the movie and a little bit about the movie.
Interviewer: What is your favorite page in your commonplace book?
Me: My favorite page in my commonplace book is the one where I wrote about visiting my cousins in Oregon. I had a lot of fun when I went there and I experienced many new things that I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t go on that trip. I also like the pictures that I put on that page because they bring back good memories.
Interviewer: Do you think writing in your commonplace book is a worthwhile exercise?
Me: Yes, I think it is helping me to express my thoughts more clearly. I like writing in my commonplace book because I can write about whatever topic I want. Writing in my commonplace book makes me think more about my values and morals. My commonplace book also gives me a place to write about my activities and hobbies.
Interviewer: Will you continue to write in a journal after your English class ends?
Me: Yes, I think I will continue to write in a journal. I don’t think I will have time to write in it every day, but I will write in it a few times a week. Writing in my commonplace book has improved my writing and I now enjoy writing more because of it, so I will definitely continue journal writing.
Although right now, I feel like I can’t do much because I am too young, I have decided that I definitely want to do more to help the community when I get older. One of my former teachers told me that he donates blood six times a year. That is the maximum amount of times a person can donate blood in a year. After hearing this, I also wanted to donate blood as often as possible when I am old enough.
Bono, the frontman of the band U2, is very socially aware. Bono promotes many organizations and foundations that help developing nations. Bono uses his fame to try to influence people to get involved and help people in poorer countries. I admire him for using his power as a well known musician to influence people to do just a little more. I think that if other celebrities tried to do things like this, many of their fans would follow their examples. I believe that if everyone made the effort to donate a small amount money, it would have a large effect.
Interview
Interviewer: What is a commonplace book?
Me: A commonplace book is a journal. I write in it after every English class. It is a place where I can practice my writing. In this book I write about whatever I want--whatever I find my self thinking about or reflecting on.
Interviewer: What are some topics that you wrote about in your commonplace book?
Me: I wrote about many different things in my commonplace book. I wrote about things I do because of school, like paddling, photography, and carnival. I wrote about different philosophies, materialism, music, movies, and television shows. I also wrote mini reflections to readings we did in class like "The Singer Solution" and "The Gift." I tried to address my essential questions.
Interviewer: What are essential questions?
Me: I wrote four broad questions in the beginning of my commonplace book. So far, I have written a little bit about each of them, attempting to answer them. My essential questions address topics such as the responsibilities of humans, religion, why people act the way they do, and Americans ability to help people in poorer nations.
Interviewer: What is a topic that you wrote a lot about?
Me: I wrote three entries about different television shows. Although I do not watch a lot of television, I wrote about my favorite shows, which are Lost, Scrubs, and the Sarah Silverman Program. I also wrote about a really funny skit I saw on SNL entitled "Lazy Sunday."
Interviewer: What other topic did you write more than one entry on?
Me: In my first entry I wrote about my photography classes at school. I cut out two photos from a magazine and wrote about what I liked and didn’t like about them. I did the same in another entry. I printed two photos from the internet. One was of Cee-lo from Gnarls Barkley, and the other was of Kele Okere from Bloc Party. I put them in my commonplace book and wrote about what I liked about the photos.
Interviewer: It seems like you have many pictures in your commonplace book.
Me: Well, on some pages I don’t have any pictures, on some pages I have one or two, and on some pages I have many pictures.
Interviewer: On which page in your book do you have the most pictures?
Me: On my "Favorite Movies" page I have eight pictures. Each picture is of one of my favorite movies. Under each picture I wrote the title of the movie and a little bit about the movie.
Interviewer: What is your favorite page in your commonplace book?
Me: My favorite page in my commonplace book is the one where I wrote about visiting my cousins in Oregon. I had a lot of fun when I went there and I experienced many new things that I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t go on that trip. I also like the pictures that I put on that page because they bring back good memories.
Interviewer: Do you think writing in your commonplace book is a worthwhile exercise?
Me: Yes, I think it is helping me to express my thoughts more clearly. I like writing in my commonplace book because I can write about whatever topic I want. Writing in my commonplace book makes me think more about my values and morals. My commonplace book also gives me a place to write about my activities and hobbies.
Interviewer: Will you continue to write in a journal after your English class ends?
Me: Yes, I think I will continue to write in a journal. I don’t think I will have time to write in it every day, but I will write in it a few times a week. Writing in my commonplace book has improved my writing and I now enjoy writing more because of it, so I will definitely continue journal writing.